A TRAINING-for-labour trade is being offered by an arts centre in Edinburgh, to assist ‘Media studies’ graduates develop their TV production skills.
Summerhall TV is the online TV channel of the Summerhall arts centre in the capital and, following a pilot scheme over the last six months, it is now seeking to offer students what will be hopefully a Masters degree in return for their labour rather than a tuition fee.
Behind the scheme is the Institute of Local Television. Says its director, Dave Rushton: “Students pay academic fees to study while often involved in undertaking research, internships or placements that financially benefits the university, the employer or both.”
The aim is that programming made with Summerhall TV – including the assistance of the graduates – will be broadcast in the UK and abroad, thus providing revenue for staff and training.
The free-training-in-return-for-labour trade will particularly assist media graduates who are at risk of losing their skills and confidence because they have yet to find work in the Media.
The Institute says it has approached the creative skills body, Skillset, to secure accreditation for a Masters degree, which would be the only UK local TV course since the Institute’s Masters which was run jointly with the local Queen Margaret University – in 1999-2000.
